Part 2 of Our Story – Read Part 1 Here
It has only been a few days since the City of Hillsboro approved the $3 Million Dollar purchase of the 6 plus acres West of Winco on SE 17th Avenue. The City handled the purchase quickly and kept their plans close to their vests. Speculation that this could be a park or low-income housing have been forwarded by our readers and others in public circles. Our team knew this was a likely option and it makes sense. If the plan and community outreach process works, the City will have the first every 24-hour a day shelter for those facing homelessness.
Few people want a shelter like this near their home, this one is in an area away from homes but close to buses. Agencies who work with the target population are nearby and it is on a bus line. The good thing for all of the citizens of Hillsboro is that the City has a plan to take up to a year to phase in the designs, the plans, and the program partners who might run this. We want you all to realize this- NO SUBDIVISION, Industrial Plant, Housing Project, Garbage dump, Chemical Plant, Amazon Hub, Data Center, Sewer Treatment plant, shopping center, etc- have EVER had to notify people within a 1-mile radius, and nor this much community engagement. This site and the users who will live here are being scrutinized at a level unheard of in Hillsboro. So the City is really requiring a lot of engagement and vetting of this use.
Here is part of what was presented:
Watch the entire presentation at the City online Video of the Jan 4, 2022, City Council meeting.
Pay close attention to what’s going on at the Econo Lodge site on 10th. The shelter there is being used as intended, but listen to how the tenor of the conversation surrounding it has changed. Listen to who’s complaining… and who’s egging on their complaints. Also, consider the incredibly short-term use of the now-demolished airport motel on Cornell. Lots of questions to be asked here: What business interests oppose this usage? How do they interact with the surrounding community? What are the city’s intentions for motel properties? Is it maintaining and retrofitting, or simply applying an interim use before potential redevelopment?